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Letters to the editor Wednesday

Posted: March 3, 2010 - 7:21am | Updated: March 3, 2010 - 8:31am

New solution for old problems

Most politicians are touting small business tax credits to save the economy from disaster.

However, as an owner of a small business and an entrepreneur for almost 40 years, I can attest that if a small business is highly profitable, it does not need tax incentives to grow. It will invest the excess profits back into the business and stimulate its own growth.

However, in this recession, when most small employers are struggling, what good are tax credits when profits are elusive or non-existent?

Small business owners realize we don't need tax credits. We need new markets as well as incentives to motivate purchase of our products and services to allow us to compete against imports and big business.

If the majority of the jobs in the U.S. are with these small employers and if it is necessary to save them in order to stimulate job growth, then instead of useless small business tax credits, I propose a new solution.

Let's first identify every employer with 25 employees or fewer and certify their goods and services as American made. Once that's done, then allow the American consumers to take a tax deduction on their tax return when purchasing these certified products and services. Like other allowable deductions, this deduction would only go up to a certain amount, say $7,500 per year.

When a consumer weighs the tax deduction he can get when buying a certified American small business item or service over purchasing an imported item or service, the result will create markets for small businesses. That, in turn, will create the profits to grow and hire new employees.

BOB RICH, Savannah

Nuclear energy eco-friendly

No sooner than Mr. Obama proposes nuclear power to re-emerge as a viable energy source, do we have the Green Police regurgitating a tired, old argument.

In "Power to Save the World: The Truth about Nuclear Energy," Gwyneth Cravens states, "When I began my research 8 years ago, I'd assumed that we had many choices in the way we made electricity. But we don't. Nuclear power is the only large-scale, environmentally-benign, time-tested technology currently available to provide clean electricity."

In an interview with Wired magazine, Cravens says the number of people directly harmed by nuclear power in the United States is zero. She goes on to say that over the lifetime cycle of nuclear power going cradle to grave with uranium, the total carbon emissions are about those of wind power.

As for the infamous Chernobyl, Cravens states that the bulk of the incident was due to a lack of precautionary measures and too much regulation. As for Three Mile Island, she says that in a dozen independent studies, no health effects have been found as a result of the Three Mile Island event.

As for the argument against nuclear waste, Cravens says it's small in volume, and is always shielded, isolated, and transported in thick casks. The waste from one average reactor, the spent fuel, per year could fit in the back of a standard pick up truck. Let's don't take the one common-sense decision that Mr. Obama has made and use it to push an anti-American and anti-Freedom agenda.

THOMAS SIMPSON, Hahira

Haitian Relief drive too picky

I read with interest the article announcing the Haitian Relief drop-off location at Mall Boulevard and Abercorn Street. I scoured my pantry and filled several boxes with non-perishable food items. I had also noted items needed included clothing. It had said the items must be new, but I thought this was a misprint. Sure enough, when I went to drop my items off, I was told only new clothing items were accepted. I was astounded.

Katrina victims are still requesting clothing, etc. and have expressed much gratitude for the clothing they have received. Only commenting that clean clothes have been a God send. Not complaining that the clothing was "used."

I had 10 boxes of clothing from my closet. All clean, in extremely good condition. I just didn't need them. They would not take my clothing.

I have no idea who set up the rules for this relief drive. But they obviously have no idea as to what someone who has lost every possession needs or doesn't. Shame on them.

DELIA SADLER, Savannah

Appraisers only measure market

In Adam Van Brimmer's Feb. 21 front-page article, "'09 bloody for Georgia's coastal banks," the director of Georgia Southern's Center for Excellence in Financial Services, Ed Sibbald, is quoted as follows: "...to the point where new appraisals won't do any more significant damage."

When supported by appropriate data, analyses and conclusions, a report of appraisal is an estimate of the value of a property as of a certain date, as reflected by the actions or inactions of that property's market.

Properly prepared, reports of appraisal are objective, and favor no person, institution or interest.

To say that appraisals do damage to banks or to value is the same as blaming a blood pressure cuff for having high blood pressure.

Please don't shoot the messengers.

NEILL F. MCDONALD, Savannah

Herb has green bloodline

The March 1 news article, "It's unanimous: Denny Herb tapped as grand marshal," would not be complete without further greening of his much-tinted bloodlines. The new grand marshal's cousin, Edward A. Leonard Sr., was the grand marshal of Savannah's 1956 St. Patrick's Day Parade, with my grandfather Joseph A. Rossiter serving as an aide.

Our new grand marshal's uncle Denny Leonard, the former coach at Benedictine and subsequently at Boy's Catholic and Aquinas High Schools, and his son Michael Leonard served as grand marshals of the Augusta parade in 1981 and 2008, respectively.

FRANK P. ROSSITER JR., MD, Grand Marshal 2008, Savannah

Leave my Flintstones alone

Congress should run the country, not our personal lives. They should do something about jobs, and not waste time making vitamins more expensive and more difficult to buy.

Get health care passed with a public option, and leave my vitamins alone. My doctor recommends them. Congress needs to get a grip. The Dietary Supplement Safety Act, S. 3002, is a farce and beneath the dignity of the U.S. Congress.

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They refused good, clean, used clothes?
My bet is that the Haitians needing such, would not have refused the clothing. I can understand them not taking in soiled, smelly, used clothing. No way to clean it before sending it off. I wonder exactly how much of the 'new' clothing will make it to Haiti?

They refused good, clean, used clothes?
My bet is that the Haitians needing such, would not have refused the clothing. I can understand them not taking in soiled, smelly, used clothing. No way to clean it before sending it off. I wonder exactly how much of the 'new' clothing will make it to Haiti?

I totally agree with you!! I've been saying that for years and I also try to practice what I preach. Sometimes it's impossible. I also think that people who buy foreign cars (and that means anything other than the Big 3), that the companies do not keep their big money here, they send it back to their own countries. The Japanese citizens drive Japanese cars, they don't have to be asked they do it because it's the right thing to do for the companies and workers in your country. Buy not just local Savannah but local USA.

I don't need you to ever tell me what I know or don't know. I knew about the tax but I also know that they will buy their own, even most that live here but Japanese cars. But with your point made, maybe we should tax any carmaker that doesn't keep there big money here. We give tax credits and no taxes to foreign makers to come here, take our money and then send it home. We get ripped any way you look at it. I have always bought one of the big 3, always took care of my car never had problems. So once again I say "Buy American."